Discussion

July Trip to Northern Michigan

My boyfriend and I are planning a road trip from Ann Arbor through Northern Michigan for a few days around 4th of July. He lives in Ann Arbor (I'm in DC) and is familiar with the towns but not the details.

We are thinking about spending July 2-4 (leaving early on the 4th) in Petoskey (perhaps at the Perry Hotel...any thoughts there?). What are some restaurant recommendations in the area? I think breakfast is taken care of at the hotel, but how about good lunches and dinners. We will be driving around, seeing different things, so we would also take recommendations outside of the Petoskey itself.

Starting on the 4th we will be driving to Mackinac Island, where we will stay on the 4th of July and leaving on the 6th (a Monday). Again I think breakfast is taken care of at the B&B we are staying at. But what are some great restaurants? Also where can we find the best fudge?? We know it's going to be very crowded over the 4th of July weekend. If at all possible, should we plan on making reservations? Other thoughts of places to go and things to do? I thought Mary's Bistro looked good.

Our price range is a little flexible. But since we are spending so much on lodging we probably wouldn't want to spend much more than $100 for dinner for 2.

Any other recommendations are greatly appreciated. We are very excited for this trip and a chance to see a different part of the state!

I would check out The Cooks' House in Traverse City if you make it back that way...or on your drive to Petoskey. We ate there for lunch...one of the best meals I've ever had....and worth the trip out of your way....especially if it's the only time you see yourself heading that far north.

Dining options on the Island are fairly limited. The Iroquois has a great view from the dining room and excellent food. The Grand Hotel might be an option for lunch or tea.The Perry Hotel is very nice as are all of the Stafford's properties. "Also where can we find the best fudge?? " Every one will have their favorite pick for fudgie food. I like Ryba's but Kilwin's and Murdick's are very good as well. Most others should be avoided unless you see them making the fudge and try a sample before buying.In Mackinaw city there is a nice family restaurant called Darrow's right across from the Holiday Inn ( West of I-75). Very good food but service can suffer at peak times. About a block South on the same side of the street you can find the best jerky and smoked Whitefish dip at Krueger's. You can't miss the smoke house. Avoid that place in down town Mackinaw that looks like a two story log cabin right on the corner. I leave links to a few other recent threads that might help.

"Avoid that place in down town Mackinaw that looks like a two story log cabin right on the corner. " It's called The Dixie Saloon and I would recommend heeding Fritter's warning. It looks attractive from the outside, but the food is just horrible. The attached pub, O'Reilly's , shares the kitchen. If you want a burger and a beer, though the atmosphere is more local, you're better off going to the Keyhole Bar. That is, if you end up in Mackinaw City. Darrow's has great "home cooking", but no alcohol. As for the Island, don't miss the view from the Grand Hotel, lunch there would be a nice splurge. I would recommend packing a picnic and bike/walk around the back (away from town) or through the middle of the island. Pick a quiet scenic spot along your route and enjoy the view!

Although I have a low opinion of the owners of the Dixie (would never encourage someone to stay at one of their motels), I have eaten at the Dixie perhaps 10 times and had only one poor experience. They have done a good job with the food my family has had there and have some of the best atmosphere in town.

That said, I like the food better at Darrow's. Nothing fancy but the salads, pies and fish are good. The food is OK at the Keyhole, but it is extremely smokey.

Scalawags Whitefish & Chips does a good job on fried perch and whitefish. Get it to go and have a picnic by the lakeshore.

I was dragged to the Dixie Saloon last fall having had a few previous unpleasant experiences there. We were sat up stairs and the place was beyond filthy. There was black mold coming out of a floor register and as you looked down you could see a ton of dust on every thing. I just can't agree at all that there is any thing even remotely positive about that place including the atmosphere unless you like being packed in with a bunch of tourists that don't know where to eat and stop there only because it's right next to Shepler's. Scalawags is fun but if it's a peak time the original Mackinaw location is best avoided. They only have two counter top deep fryers so they can not keep up the oil temperature and the fish gets soggy. If it's not a peak time we really enjoy Scalawags. It's tucked away in a shopping plaza so you can not see it driving down Main Street.They are franchising now so many of the other units have full size fryers. The Cheboygan and TC locations are both very good but Cheboygan is seasonal.I've had many good meals at both Audie's and the Chippewa room.Another very good option that has been around next to fore-ever is "Neath The Birches" just South of town.

I hear ya but the prices change every season. The one thing I would say about Neath the Birches or Audies for that matter is that if there are buses there it's not the best time to go. The other options we talked about in Harbor springs or betwen there and Mackinaw are better choices (IMO) than every thing in Mackinaw except Scalawags on a good day.

We ate @ the P-town Scalawags the week after Mother's Day & it was great. I had the whitefish & shrimp basket and my sister had the whitefish & perch. She had perch at the Chart Room the night before and thought the coating on the Scalawags perch was a little too heavy in comparison.

We both thought the whitefish & shrimp were excellent. Try the chowder - it's thinner than the Stafford's version but very good.

Also in the same area is the Sidedoor. This used to be a real dive but the current owners have built a very strong business. Their whitefish with lemon & capers is the best.

Actually, The Chart Room is in Harbor Springs. It is the more casual room at The Pier, which is a Stafford's restaurant on the water with very good food. In Petoskey, the Perry Hotel, in addition to its more formal dining room, has a room called the Noggin Room with a sports bar ambiance but with good food. They were recently serving pizza with morel mushrooms and always have a nice planked whitefish. Petoskey and HS are a very pleasant 15-20 minute drive along the bay.

The Perry Hotel is lovely. I have never stayed ther but have eaten there many times. The food is excellent as with all of Stafford Smith's properties.ou might also want to check out the Bay View Inn which is also owned by Stafford and is an old victorian inn on the water in a quaint area just north of Petoskey called Bay View with a village of Victorian homes.It also has a nice dining room and is worth going to for lunch or dinner.Your price point should be fine in almost any area restaurant depending on alcohol.Definitely take the drive up 119 from Harbor Springs to Cross Village through the tunnel of trees. You should at least see the Legg's Inn even if you don't sample the Polish cuisine. The interior can't be described, and the gardens and view from the rear (you can dine outside) are spectacular. You can also eat at the Crow's Nest between Harbor Springs and Cross Village. The area specialty is whitefish served on a "plank" with dutchess potatoes. We like the New York in HS and any of the Stafford restaurants, although they are similar so you may want to only sample one. In Petoskey check out the City Park Grill and its famous bar where Hemingway hung out. If you drive to Charlevoix - you should, it is beautiful - Terry's Place does whitefish, perch and walleye really well. Also check out the stone houses that look like they were built for trolls. We also like the Douglas Lake Bar and Steakhouse which is right on the lake in Pellston and you can eat on the porch. Great "up north" feal and good food. Also in Pellston and definitely worth checking out is the Pellston Market which serves gourmet dinners although sporadically. Hopefully others can assist you with the island. Have a great time and report back.

The lunch buffet at the Grand is spectacular. Something you should experience at least once. With two of you, you should be able to snag one of the small two person tables by the window with a great view of the Straits of Mackinac and freighters passing below. The buffet uses a series of tables, over 70 foot long, with dishes on each side. Many fruits, cheeses, Hors d'oeuvres, salads, pastas, breads, oysters & mussels in the shell, smoked salmon.

Admission to the Hotel for non-guests is $10, but is applied to your purchase. The meal is expensive at $47.95, but that includes tax and tip.

The Cupola Bar at the top of the hotel has great views and is usually empty during the middle of the day.

The Village Inn is not fancy at all, but is comfortable, reasonable priced and does a good job on local fresh fish.

You will get many different opinions on the best fudge, but my favorite is Marshall's in Mackinaw City. And they are the only one ever to get everything correct with the orders I have shipped to family and friends.

You might consider staying in Mackinaw City the night of the 4th. The fireworks plus the Bridge are beautiful and you can also see the displays in St. Ignace and Mackinac Island.